Introduction to Computing

What is a Computer?
■ Computer is an electronic device that is
designed to work with information. A
computer is a programmable machine.
This means it can execute a
programmed list of instructions.
Computer can not do anything
without a Program.
Definition
■ Computer … Latin Word .. Compute
■ Webster Dictionary Defines “Computer”
as any programmable electronic device
that can store, retrieve, and process
data.
 Devices that comprise a computer system
Monitor
Speaker
(output)
(output) System unit
(processor, memory…)

Printer
(output)

Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy,
Hard disk, zip,…)
Mouse
(input)
Scanner
Keyboard
(input)
(input)

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What Does A Computer Do?

Computers can perform four general

operations, which comprise the information
processing cycle.

■ Input
■ Process
■ Output
■ Storage

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 Data and Information
■ All computer processing requires data, which is a collection of
raw facts, figures and symbols, such as numbers, words,
images, video and sound, given to the computer during the
input phase.
■ Computers manipulate data to create information. Information
is data that is organized, meaningful, and useful.
■ During the output Phase, the information that has been created
is put into some form, such as a printed report.
■ The information can also be put in computer storage for future
use.

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Example:

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 Why Is A Computer So Powerful?
■ The ability to perform the information
processing cycle with amazing speed.
■ Reliability (low failure rate).
■ Accuracy.
■ Ability to store huge amounts of data and
information.
■ Ability to communicate with other computers.

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 How Does a Computer Know
what to do?
■ It must be given a detailed list of instructions,
called a compute program or software,
that tells it exactly what to do.
■ Before processing a specific job, the
computer program corresponding to that job
must be stored in memory.
■ Once the program is stored in memory the
compute can start the operation by executing
the program instructions one after the other.
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Look inside the computer
SOFTWARE

HARDWARE

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 What is a Hardware?
1. HARDWARE: hardware refers to
the physical parts of a computer
and related devices.
2. A computer's hardware consists of
electronic devices; the parts you
can see and touch.

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 Bringing the Machine to Life –
What is Software?

■ Software is a set of electronic instructions that tells

the computer how to do certain tasks. A set of
instructions is often called a program.

■ When a computer is using a particular program, it

is said to be running or executing the program.

■ The two most common types of programs are

system software and application software.
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 What Are The Primary
Components Of A Computer ?
■ Input devices.
■ Central Processing Unit
(containing the control
unit and the
arithmetic/logic unit).
■ Memory.
■ Output devices.
■ Storage devices.

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 Input Devices

• Translate data from form that humans

understand to one that the computer can
work with
• Most common are keyboard and mouse

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 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the brain of

the computer where most
calculations take place. In terms of
computing power, the CPU is the
most important element of
a computer system.
• The speed (clock speed) of CPU
measured by Hertz (Hz)
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 CPU
Output Devices

Pieces of equipment that translate the

processed information from the CPU into a
form that humans can understand.
ma ssed
n
tio
inf roce
P
or

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 Output Devices

▪ Monitors
▪ Printers
➢ Dot matrix printers
➢ Ink jet printers
➢ Laser printers
▪ Speakers
▪ Projector

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Memory

■ Enables a computer to store, at least

temporarily, data, programs, and
intermediate results.

■ Two general parts:

1. RAM

2. ROM

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Types of Computers

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Microcomputer
■ Can be classified into:
■ Desktop PCs
■ sits on desks, rarely moved, large and bulky.
■ Memory capacity, graphics capacity and
software availability vary from one computer to
another Used both for business and home
applications

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Microcomputer
■ Portable PCs
■ Can be moved easily from place to place
■ Weight may varies
■ Small PCs are popular known as laptop
■ Widely used by students, scientist, reporters,
etc

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 Microcomputer Model
Laptop
Notebook
Desktop

Subnotebook Palmtop

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Microcomputer
■ Advantages
■ Small size
■ Low cost
■ Portability
■ Low Computing Power
■ Commonly used for personal applications
■ Disadvantages
■ Low processing speed
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Uses of Microcomputer
■ Word Processing
■ Home entertainment
■ Home banking
■ Printing
■ Surfing the internet
■ etc

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Minicomputer
■ Medium sized computer
■ Also called the minis
■ e.g. IBM36, HP9000, etc
■ Computing power lies between
microcomputer and mainframe
computer

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MiniComputer
■ Characteristics
■ Bigger size than PCs
■ Expensive than PCs
■ Multi-User
■ Difficult to use
■ More computing power than PCs
■ Used by medium sized business organizations,
colleges, libraries and banks.

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Uses of Minicomputer
■ Control of Automated Teller Machine
(ATMs)
■ Payroll
■ Hospital patients registration
■ Inventory Control for supermarket
■ Insurance claims processing
■ Small bank accounting and customer
details tracking
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Minicomputer
■ Advantage
■ Cater to multiple users
■ Lower costs than mainframes
■ Disadvantage
■ Large
■ Bulky

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Mainframe

■ Known as enterprise
servers
■ Occupies entire rooms or
floors
■ Used for centralized
computing
■ Serve distributed users and
small servers in a computing
network

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 MainFrame
■ Large, fast and expensive computer
■ Cost millions of dollar
■ e.g. IBM3091, ICL39, etc
■ Characteristics:
■ Bigger in size than minicomputers
■ Very expensive
■ Support a few hundred users simultaneously (Multi-Users)
■ Difficult to use
■ More computing power than minicomputers
■ Have to be kept in a special air-conditioned room
■ Used in big business organizations and government
departments

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 Areas where mainframes are used
■ Airline reservation
■ Big banks with hundreds of branches located all over
the world.
■ Big universities with thousands of enrollment
■ Animated Cartoon
■ Some mainframes are designed to be extremely fast
and called super computers. It is used for space
launching, monitoring and controlling.

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Mainframe
■ Advantage
■ Supports many users and instructions
■ Large memory
■ Disadvantage
■ Huge size
■ Expensive

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Supercomputer

■ Fastest and expensive

■ Used by applications for
molecular chemistry, nuclear
research, weather forecasting,
and petroleum exploration.
■ Consists of several computers
that work in parallel as a
single system

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Super Computer

■ Advantage
■ Speed

■ Disadvantage
■ Generate a large

amount of heat
during operation

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 Types of Computer
(on the basis of application)

■ Analog (continous values)

■ Digital (Discrete values)
■ Hybrid

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Analog Computers
■ Analog computers store data in a
continuous form of physical quantities
and perform calculations with the help
of measures. Analog computers are
excellent for situations which require
data to be measured directly without
converting into numerals or codes.

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Analog Computers (Cont.)
■ Analog data is not discrete, but rather is
of a continuous nature. Examples of
such data are pressure, temperature,
voltage, speed and weight.Real-time
operation and simultaneous
computation is possible with the help of
analog computers.

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Examples
■ Speedometer
■ Weight machine
■ Thermometer
■ Wall clock

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Digital Computers
■ A computer that performs calculations
and logical operations with quantities
represented as digits, usually in
the binary number system i.e using only
the two digits 0 and 1.

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Example
■ Personal computer/ Desktop
■ Laptops

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 Hybrid Computer (Analog +
Digital)

■ A hybrid computer is a type of

computer that offers the functionalities
of both a digital and an analog
computer. It is designed to include a
working analog unit that is powerful for
calculations, yet has a readily available
digital memory.

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Hybrid Computer (Cont.)
■ So basically a hybrid computer
processes both analog and digital data.
■ Hybrid computer is a digital computer
that accepts analog signals, converts
them to digital and processes them in
digital form

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Examples
■ Gas Pump Station (where measurement
of gas by analog system), and
displaying such calculation by digital
system (computer)
■ Computer used in hospitals to measure
the heartbeat of the patient.

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Thank You

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References
http://ecomputernotes.com/fundamental/introduction-to-computer/
what-is-computer
https://techterms.com/definition/computer
https://www.slideshare.net/zabbasi1982/data-processing-cycle-223
69866
https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CPU.html
https://techterms.com/definition/hardware
http://ecomputernotes.com/fundamental/introduction-to-computer/
write-a-detailed-note-on-classification-of-computers